Amid 'Citizenship' Showdown, Modi Govt Rejects West Bengal's Tableau For Republic Day Parade

The ongoing war of words between the Centre and the West Bengal government over the CAA issue might take a turn for the worse as the Union Defence Ministry rejected the Trinamool government’s tableau proposal for the upcoming Republic Day parade scheduled for later this month. The tableau episode may spark a fresh showdown between the top leadership at the Centre and Nabanna. While West Bengal’s pitch was rejected, the proposals of 16 states/Union Territories and six ministries/departments have been shortlisted for the 2020 Republic Day parade.

According to news agency ANI, the defence ministry reportedly said that the Bengal’s proposal didn’t make a cut after two rounds of deliberations. “The tableau proposal of West Bengal government was examined by the expert committee in two rounds of meetings,” a defence ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying. “The committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations,” he further said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Tapas Roy accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of having a "vindictive attitude" against the state. "Just because West Bengal has been opposing anti-people policies of the BJP government, a step-motherly   treatment is being meted out to the state. As we have opposed anti-people laws like CAA, the Centre has rejected our tableau proposal," Roy was quoted as saying by PTI.

Mamata Banerjee has been leading the anti-CAA protests. Earlier, she had said that  there will not be any detention center in the state as long as she was alive. She said that no one can snatch away our rights like citizenship. Earlier, on Thursday, Banerjee had warned the BJP against 'playing with fire' asserting that peaceful protests will continue as long as the new citizenship law is not withdrawn. In last week of December, Banerjee held three back-to-back rallies against the citizenship law. Addressing a rally in the city, the Trinamool Congress chief alleged that the BJP is trying to brand the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a fight between Hindus and Muslims.

Iterating that the contentious law and the NRC won’t be allowed in West Bengal, Banerjee said that BJP was founded in 1980 and was asking for citizenship documents of 1970 from the people. “We are born here and that is our biggest identity.  BJP does not have the right to determine our citizenship. Do we have to wear BJP’s amulet to prove our citizenship? A party which was formed in 1980 is seeking documents from those who were born in 1950s, 60s, 70s,” she quipped.